“Emil Beaudreaux, Mrs. Chambers.”
“Mr. Emil Beaudreaux. I have no joy in this situation. If our relationship ends up in the newspapers, I will deal with you with no sympathy or mercy. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am. I understand.”
“Good.” She stood up with incredible discipline and self-control and walked out.
Neville continued, “The threat comes from Sty Carruthers. He’s the CEO of the company and next in line to inherit. He’s...”
Delilah quietly said, “Inherently unstable and violent.”
Neville nodded his head, “Well said, Delilah. He’s not subtle. If it looks like we might make it to one year, he’s likely to make an attempt on our lives.” Neville turned to Delilah. “Visit with Mr. Beaudreaux often and oversee his preparations. I’d like to survive.”
“Yes, Mr. Chambers.”
Emil said, “Miss Anderson, would you like to come to lunch at my home? It’s where I work.”
Delilah said, “I would.”
Emil Beaudreaux made a call as he drove home. His staff worked quickly and efficiently. Before he reached home, he had a complete report on Stiltson Worthington Carruthers.
Chapter Three
Delilah pulled up to a large home on Malibu Beach. The home was bigger than others along the coast and odd. Emil had a sense of humor. Amid the modern flat roofed houses, he’d built a Cape Cod cottage with a steep roof and a front porch. Rather than allow the wood to weather, he’d painted it light blue and kept it up against the sea air.
Delilah rang the doorbell. A tall man with heavy shoulders and a massive chest answered the door. He filled the doorway. He looked as much like the traditional butler as a military tank looks like a butterfly. His voice was wrong as well. Butlers don’t have French accents. He said, “Yes” in a suspicious way. Delilah almost turned around and ran. She said, “I’m Delilah Anderson. I’m to have lunch with Emil Beaudreaux.”
The man turned around. He said, over his shoulder, “Come in. It’s almost ready.”
The man headed toward the front of the house and turned left. Delilah turned left as well. The man went directly to the stove and took a spoon from a thin woman with a critical eye. He said, “Well done, Mon Cheri. Thank you.”
The woman was of normal height and slightly thinner than average. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She scrunched her mouth to one side in an expression of irritation. “Did you introduce yourself to the lady? No, you didn’t. I could hear.” She said to Delilah, “This great, insensitive oaf is my husband, Jules Ledoux. I am his patient wife, Denise”
Jules concentrated on the sauce simmering in the pot. He raised the hand that wasn’t stirring and wave two fingers at Delilah.
Emil walked in to the kitchen. “Miss Anderson, thank you for coming.” He raised his voice a little, as if he were talking with someone fifty feet away. “What are we enjoying for lunch, Jules?”
Jules didn’t answer. Denise did. She did it, knowing her husband wasn’t going to. “Crepes with sauteed pears, gouda cheese and fresh thyme.”
Emil said, “Bon. We eat well.”
They did. Jules brought lunch to the small table set with four chairs and ate with his employer, his wife and Delilah.
After a meal eaten in silence, they sat back. Delilah said, “That was wonderful. Delicious. Jules, you are an artist.”
Jules smiled. “Merci, Miss Anderson. Merci.”
Emil said, “Let’s go into my office, Miss Anderson.”
Delilah said, “Please, call me Delilah.”
“Certainly.”
They walked fifty feet to a small room that had obviously been a bedroom before the bed and chest of drawers were moved out and a desk and sofa moved in. They sat on the sofa.
Deliah said, “It’s obvious that Jules is your friend much more than your employee. How did you meet?”
“We were in the French Commandos Marine together. He loves to cook. I love to eat. It seemed obvious.”
They went over the security arrangements for the next day. Neville supplied his daily schedule and Emil created precautions that kept Neville and Madison alive.
Delilah spent most of her day with Emil. A week later, Emil said, “Why don’t you bring a swimming suit with you tomorrow. We have the wonderful Pacific Ocean at our fingertips. It seems a shame to waste it.”
Delilah took a deep breath. “I’d love to.” As Delilah was leaving for the day, Denise intercepted her and pulled her into a bedroom. “I am a busy body. I apologize but I won’t stop. It’s too important. You’ve been with Emil for a week. You see a nice man with a handsome face and an impressive body. You don’t see the inside of him. He lost his wife in a traffic accident a year ago. He hasn’t looked at a woman since, and it’s time. I can see how you’re dressed and, therefore, who you are. Also, I’ve seen you look at him. He plays inside your heart.” She nodded in approval. “Bon. Now, you must gain his attention. He must live again, and you are the one to recover him. Will you do that?”